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Talk of Arsenal being champions-elect ‘takes focus to wrong place’, says Arteta

Mikel Arteta says nobody is more driven than him to win the Premier League this season as he promised his Arsenal players would not be distracted by talk of them as champions-elect.

The signs for Arsenal are extremely promising despite the inevitable anxiety among their fanbase, which has been felt during the past two league matches – the 0-0 draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal are seven points clear at the top as they prepare for the visit of Manchester United on Sunday; they have by far the meanest defence in the division and have shown their strength in many other areas, including set pieces.

Pep Guardiola, whose Manchester City are second, described Arsenal as “the best team in the world” on Friday and Arteta has heard the line about how it is their title to lose. Arsenal last won the league in 2003-04.

I don’t think anybody has probably more motivation, more hunger, more desire for us to go all the way and win it...